"Stop hiding me away. Let me out." Something was calling out to Asta. Something wanted out, but he wasn't sure if it was something he could trust it.

"Hello?!" Asta called. The voice kept pounding away on Asta. He didn't know who it was or what was happening. Suddenly a shadow appeared right in front of him and formed a demonic face. Asta wasn't sure if this was something he could trust. He kept away from it until the face came at him and Asta shot straight up from his sleep like he just had a nightmare. He looked around to see all of it really was just a dream, but it felt so real. What did this mean?

...

Timeless Meals

Asta tried getting back to work on Timeless Meals, but he couldn't focus. That dream was only a moment, but it kept replaying in his head. It was like something inside him was trying to tell him something.

"Asta, are you okay?" Mimosa asked. "Your look like you're distracted about something."

"Just a bad dream." Asta said.

"You haven't had a bad dream since you were a child." Yuno said. "Back then, you use to climb into Sister Lily's bed for comfort. Are you going to start doing that again?"

"I'm not some sort of baby!" Asta said as he felt a little insulted. "It was just some weird bad dream. That's all it really was." Asta believes that really all it is, and the others took his word for it, but something in him was telling him that it wasn't.

"Everyone! Come upstairs at once!" Julius called. He sounded concerned and that meant that there was great trouble coming. All of them hurried upstairs to see what the problem might have been. When they got up there, they spotted Julius staring into the crystal ball, but it was glowing an ominous dark color.

"Julius, what's happening?" Noelle asked.

"I don't think the crystal ball has ever glowed like that before." Finral said as this certainly didn't look good.

"There is a dark force entering Clover Meadows." Julius said. "Rangers, you must be careful. There's something different about whatever this threat is."

"Different? Different how?" Vanessa said.

"Do you think Dante is making another appearance?" Luck questioned.

"Not Dante. It's something more than that." Julius said. "I don't know what this is, but you all must be careful." None of them liked the sound of this, but they have to do something. However, as Asta stared into the crystal ball, he could feel there was something stirring in him.

"Asta, are you okay?" Noelle asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Asta said as he tried brushing it off and went with the others, but Julius and a few others were concerned on what might be happening to him.

...

Clover Meadows

Once the team was alerted of the danger, Finral opened a portal for the six of them to run out of. When they got there, they looked around for any signs of this danger that Julius was trying to warn them about.

"Anyone see anything?" Finral questioned.

"Nothing that appears out of the ordinary." Vanessa said.

"Over here, rangers!" They all looked and spotted Zenon and Vanica together.

"That's something out of the ordinary: the witch and the freak together. They're usually apart." Noelle said.

"Oh, Noelle... I do so enjoy our times together." Vanica said.

"And they make me sick like you." Noelle said.

"What are you two doing here?" Asta said.

"Something isn't right." Yuno said. "We warned about a dangerous power. These two couldn't be it. Where could it be?"

"I think you're talking about me?" All of them looked behind them and were met with what Julius was talking about: Zagred. They could all tell just by looking at him that this guy was greatly troubled. He didn't appear to be like the other devils they've faced before.

"What the heck are you?" Vanessa said.

"My name is Zagred. I'm new around here. I've heard a lot about the six of you. You will make excellent playthings." All the rangers could tell there was something dangerous about this one, but he's a monster just like any other. That means they have to take him down.

"Doesn't matter who you are. We're taking you down just like all the rest." Asta claimed.

"Mana Morpher: Magic Calling!"

"Heaven's Morpher: Magic Calling!" All of the rangers morphed and readied themselves for a fight. Asta and the others even went straight into Saint Mode to fight this devil.

"This is going to be a lot of fun." Vanica said as she was getting excited. "What do you say, Zenon? Let's join in the fun."

"Sure." Zenon agreed. They both changed into their armored forms and were ready for a fight as well.

"I'll take Vanica. Who wants her freaky brother?" Noelle asked.

"I'll take him. Asta, you think you and the others can take that other freak?" Yuno said.

"No problem." Asta said. Once they picked their opponents, the rangers charged at them and went on the attack. Noelle went right at Vanica as she swung her saber right at her, but Vanica blocked it with her claw. They both tried to push the other back.

"Come on, Noelle. Something big is coming, so let's make this a good fight." Vanica said.

"What do you mean something big is coming?" Noelle questioned.

"I don't want to spoil the fun!" Vanica said as she pushed Noelle's sword out of the way and slashed her claw against her, but Noelle fought back and slashed her saber against her. Yuno tried fighting off Zenon. Zenon swung his spear straight down, but Yuno used his sabers to block it and kicked him back. Yuno tried shooting rays of light, but Zenon blocked each one.

"You'll have to do better than that." Zenon taunted.

"I got plenty to work with." Yuno claimed. He jumped up and tried striking him down, but Zenon blocked it and pushed him aside. As for the others, they all tried striking at Zagred. Zagred slashed his claws against them as he was able to fend off against all four of them.

"Let's go for a spin!" Zagred said as he spun around at incredible speed. His wings and tail slashed against each of them and did some damage to each of them. Zagred didn't stop there. Zagred flew off from the ground and went to the others. He smashed against Noelle and Yuno. That gave an opening for Vanica and Zenon as they both landed an attack and sent them to the others.

"You guys okay?" Finral said as they all tried to get back up.

"What's the deal with that guy in black?" Vanessa said.

"I don't know, but he's pretty strong." Asta said.

"You haven't seen anything yet." Zagred said. He used his powers with a vortex opening behind him. "Tempest of Blades!" Zagred unleashed a storm of swords upon them. All of them got struck by the swords and they couldn't escape. It was like a gale wind made of blades. The attacks kept going until they were all knocked down. "It's been so long since I've had a lot of fun like this!"

"Ha! I like this one's style!" Vanica said.

"Well? Is there anything else you like to try? I'm curious to see what you rangers can really do." Zagred said. They all tried to stand back up, but they all were hit hard by Zagred's attacks. "Don't tell me you had enough already. I was hoping we could have some fun more."

"We're not beaten." Asta said as he was able to stand back up. "Come on! Hit me with your best shot!"

"You asked for it! Tempest of Blades!" Zagred unleashed another series of blades, but Asta was ready for it this time. Using great strength and speed, Asta was able to strike away all the blades and endured them. "Ooh! That was actually pretty good. Perhaps this won't be as boring as I thought."

"One way or another, I'm taking you down!" Asta said as he was ready to attack.

"Let me out!"

"What? That voice!" Asta recognized that voice as the one from his dream, but he couldn't see where it came from. That left him distracted and gave Zagred an opportunity. Zagred charged right at Asta with incredible speed and grabbed a hold of him. He smashed Asta right into a wall and struck him with his claws until Asta hit the ground.

"Hold on, Asta!" Yuno called as the other rangers tried to charge right at him, but Zagred was ready for them. He smashed his claw into the ground. When he did that, a series of spikes shot out of the ground and smashed into each of the rangers.

"We want in on the fun, too!" Vanica said as she and Zenon unleashed their own attacks. Zagred flew out of the air as those attacks hit and all the rangers took some hard hits. "Could this be it? Are we finally going to finish them?"

"Careful, Vanica. You're getting too excited." Zenon said.

"I want more action!" Vanica said as she was ready to go, but Zagred got in the way and stopped her from doing anything. "What are you doing?"

"Let's not finish them yet. They should have a look at what is to come." Zagred said.

"That might not be a wise idea." Zenon said. "If we let them roam around long enough, they will find some way to get in our way."

"It's fine because there's really nothing they can do about it." Zagred said. "Besides, it won't be as much fun if we don't have a little challenges along the way."

"Hey, don't forget that you should be taking orders from us." Vanica said.

"And don't forget that this whole thing is my idea to begin with." Zagred reminded for it seemed that he's not taking orders as easily as the devils before him did. "Come along. Let's go see how Dante is doing at his end." Zagred just turned around and started walking. Vanica and Zenon didn't really like it, but they followed Zagred with it.

"Get back here!" Asta called as he tried to stop them, but Zagred actually stretched out his tail all the way to Asta. He lashed his tail at him like a whip and knocked him back down.

"Did you see that?" Luck said.

"He just smacked his tail against Asta without even turning around." Noelle said as this whole fight was unreal.

"Julius was right. This guy is different from anything else we fought before." Asta said as they all tried to get back up. "It sounds like he's got something big planned. Whatever it is, we need to go after them and stop them." All of them certainly agreed with that. They were all able to get back up and tried to chase after them to stop them from whatever it is they're planning.

...

The Rangers' Base

"Okay. All of you be careful out there, but find out what is going on." Julius told his rangers after they reported in on what happened. Mimosa and Julius tried monitoring what happened, but they were also worried on what was going on.

"Do you think they're all going to be okay? You said so yourself that they're facing against something dangerous." Mimosa questioned.

"I sure hope so." Julius said as he too wasn't liking where this was going. "I have a feeling that something troubling is going to happen soon. We need to stop it before it does." Julius used his crystal ball to try and find the enemy. They need to find out what's going on and stop it before it's too late.

...

Dante

Meanwhile, Dante was out in a rock quarry. He and some spades were setting up something in the ground. He oversaw that it happened and it was just about done.

"Good. It's just how Zagred said." Dante said as he stood over what was engraved into the ground. He had a giant magic circle engraved into the ground.

"Is it done?" Dante looked back and saw Zagred and his siblings have arrived.

"It is. The circle was made just as you said." Dante said. Zagred was pleased to hear about that.

"I still don't get what's suppose to happen." Vanica said.

"That would spoil the surprise." Zagred said. "I can tell you is that all of it is going as planned. Your planet is about to be in perfect alignment with the sun and the moon. When that happens, power from the Netherworld will be unleashed."

"And what is suppose to happen when that power is released?" Zenon said.

"That's the surprise." Zagred claimed. "Just be patient. I promise you that it will be worth the wait." Dante and Vanica were taking his sword for it, but Zenon wasn't so sure.

"Dante, I don't trust this one." Zenon whispered to his older brother. "I do not think this is a good idea."

"You worry too much, Zenon. The power is coming from the Netherworld. Humanity's end will be near, our goals will be soon be in reached. I say we should see where this goes." Dante claimed.

"Exactly, and the time is almost near!" Zagred said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to do something to pass the time." Whatever Zagred is planning, it's going to happen soon, and a plan from a devil is never a good plan for humanity.

...

The Rangers

Asta and the others hurried after their enemies. They were close by to where the Dark Triad was set, but they haven't come across anyone just yet.

"Keep your guards up." Asta said. "Julius said he detected some dark power gathering around this area."

"That means whatever is going on is going to happen soon. We better get moving." Yuno said.

"Hello there!" They all looked up and spotted Zagred coming in for a second round. "You rangers certainly appear to be gluttons for punishment, but I'm also glad you're here. I don't want all of this to be too boring."

"Just what are you planning?" Asta said.

"How many times am I going to have to tell people that I don't want to spoil the surprise?" Zagred said. "Just know that it's something you can't stop, but I'm hoping you'll try."

"We'll just beat you like anyone else!" Luck said as he stepped forward. "Saint Magic: Thunderbolt Destruction!" He launched his attack, but Zagred formed a shield around himself and was able to block the attack.

"Next." Zagred dared.

"I'll get him! Saint Magic: Sea Dragon Roar!" Noelle used her own attack against him, but he just flew down from where he was and landed on the ground.

"You'll have to do better than that." Zagred said.

"No solo attacks." Asta said as he saw they weren't working. "Let's attack him together!" All of the rangers held out their swords and went on the attack. They all tried attacking him directly, but Zagred pulled out his own weapon. He summoned a trident and blocked each of their attacks.

"You're finished!" Zagred declared. He thrusted his spear forward and tried striking Asta with it, but Asta held up his saber and was able to block it.

"I don't think so!" Asta said as Zagred was surprised he stopped his attack. Asta was able to push the trident out of the way and slashed his sword against Zagred and did some damage. Vanessa helped out as she unleashed some threads at him and got Zagred entangled.

"Now, Finral!" Vanessa called.

"I got it! Saint Magic: Fallen Angel Gust!" Finral smashed his saber against the ground and unleashed a powerful energy wave. It smashed into Zagred and it did some damage to him. The other rangers stepped in with the rest of them using powerful slashes on him. Vanessa finished it as she gave him a good throw and had him smash against the ground.

"It looks like you underestimated what we're really capable of. We're a lot stronger than you think." Asta claimed.

"What difference does it make? You'll fail in the end." Zagred said as he got back up. "In fact, it's getting ready to start." None of them liked the sound of that. Zagred's threat appeared to be accurate. Back at where the Dark Triad was at, the magic circle began to glow with dark powers. The power was unleashed in a powerful wave that spread through the area. The rangers felt that wave wash over them and they could feel that dark power rising.

"What was that?" Vanessa questioned.

"Something bad." Yuno said.

"I want out!"

"That voice again. What is it? Who wants out and where?" Asta questioned as he wasn't sure where that voice was coming from. Suddenly, he felt something pulsate through his body with him nearly dropping to the ground.

"Asta! What's wrong?!" Noelle said as the others were getting concerned.

"What is going on? What just happened to me?" Asta questioned. Something is going on with him, but he has no idea what any of this is really means.

"It looks like you're realizing how hopeless your situation is." Zagred declared. "Dark power is entering your world. The gates that lead to the Netherworld are opening! When all is complete, a truly terrifying power will awaken!" The Netherworld itself is connecting to the human world. Whatever Zagred is planning, the world will soon be placed in darkness because of it. If the rangers can't figure out how to stop this, there's not telling what could happen.

To Be Continued...